(Yicai Global) March 20 -- Russian companies are keen to deepen trade cooperation with China and many of them, including Russian Railways, have already applied to participate in the upcoming China International Import Expo this year.

Over 100 officials and entrepreneurs from Russia and China participated in the second CIIE's promotional event, held at Moscow's International Trade Center yesterday, state-backed Xinhua News Agency reported.

The CIIE has become a large platform to enhance China-Russia economic and trade cooperation, a Chinese official said at the event.

The two nations' bilateral trade volume exceeded USD100 billion last year, heading for USD200 billion, said Li Jingyuan, economic and commercial minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in Russia.

Russia-China trade is in a critical development stage, in both quantity and quality, and the CIIE is a great opportunity for Russian firms to promote their products and build as well as develop ties with their Chinese counterparts, said Igor Zhuk, senior vice president of Moscow's Russian Export Center.

One of the participants was from Russia Flower which makes colored tree bark that can be used to cover soil in order to curb weed growth. The firm is very optimistic about the potential of the Chinese market, its senior executive told Xinhua.

Over 100 Russian firms, involving various sectors such as agriculture, medical equipment, high-tech and service trade, took part in last November's CIIE in Shanghai with their exhibition area exceeding 2,500 square meters.